Hours before Verizon Wireless begins accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 4, AT&T announced a generous change to the data plans of tethering smartphone customers.
On February 13, AT&T will automatically add an extra 2GB of data for smartphone users who are already paying the $20 a month tethering fee.
So if you use an AT&T smartphone and pay the minimum Data Pro plus plan of $25 for 2GB, as well as the $20 tethering subscription, you will effectively receive 4GB of data for $45 a month.
The promotion coincides with the launch of AT&T's first smartphone with a built-in mobile hotspot, the HTC Inspire 4G phone (pictured). The Inspire's mobile hotspot will connect multiple devices from their smartphone via Wi-Fi. Hotspotting will also cost $45 a month for 4GB.
"Our customers want to connect as many devices as possible to the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, which is getting faster with 4G," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, in a statement.
"We want to extend the benefits of an additional 2GB to smartphone customers on our tethering plan. This delivers more value today for the price they're already paying – and that's what our customers want."
In January, Verizon launched an iPhone with a built-in mobile hotspot app, which AT&T's lacks.